Gemotions

The worn chessboard sat between them, the pieces arranged in a familiar pattern. "Remember that game we played when we were kids?" Brian asked, a nostalgic smile on his face. "You were so close to winning!"

Mark stared at the board, his jaw clenched. He remembered. He remembered the agonizing tension, the way he had meticulously planned his moves. He remembered Brian suddenly claiming the victory, a casual comment that had stolen his joy.

Brian moved his piece, oblivious. Mark felt his pulse quicken. He focused on the board, on the strategy, on a way to end the game quickly. He didn't want to play this game of pretend any longer. He wanted to feel something else.